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Woman convicted of fraud after posing as Grenfell survivor Woman convicted of fraud after posing as Grenfell survivor
(35 minutes later)
A woman has been convicted of posing as a grief-stricken Grenfell Tower survivor to claim money, donations and hotel accommodation meant for the victims of the fire. A woman has been convicted of posing as a survivor of the Grenfell Tower fire to claim money, donations and hotel accommodation meant for the victims.
Joyce Msokeri, 47, told authorities she had escaped the the blaze in west London last June but that her husband had died. Msokeri was actually single and living miles away at the time. Joyce Msokeri, 47, told authorities she had escaped the the blaze in west London last June but her husband had died. Msokeri was actually single and living miles away at the time.
Over the next few weeks, she filled a room at a Hilton hotel to bursting with donations made by well-wishers, and concocted an elaborate ploy to claim insurance on her fictitious partner’s death, the jury at Southwark crown court heard. Over the next few weeks, she filled a room at a Hilton hotel with donations from charities and individuals, and concocted an elaborate ploy to claim insurance on her fictitious partner’s death, the jury at Southwark crown court in London heard.
She was found guilty of three counts of fraud against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the Hilton and charities respectively, and a further charge of possessing a false document. She was found guilty of three counts of fraud against the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the Hilton and a number of charities respectively, and a further charge of possessing a false document.
Msokeri was not in court to hear the verdicts as she remains in hospital after being admitted on Monday for medical tests. Msokeri was not in court to hear the verdict because she remains in hospital after being admitted on Monday for medical tests.
The judge, Michael Grieve QC, set a sentencing date for 6 April.The judge, Michael Grieve QC, set a sentencing date for 6 April.
He thanked the jury for their “good humour” in the face of Msokeri’s delay tactics throughout the trial, including regularly feigning illness and claiming to have a disability. He thanked the jury for their “good humour” in the face of Msokeri’s delaying tactics throughout the trial, including regularly feigning illness and claiming to have a disability.
Two relatives of a victim of the fire, whom Msokeri at one point tried to claim was her husband, were seated in the public gallery as the verdicts were read out. Two relatives of a victim of the fire, whom Msokeri at one point tried to claim was her husband, were sitting in the public gallery as the verdict was read out.
Msokeri , of Sutton, south London, had repeatedly tried to frustrate justice by faking illnesses or a disability, including by using a wheelchair for which she had no medical need, the court heard. Msokeri, of Sutton, south London, had repeatedly tried to frustrate justice by faking illnesses or a disability, including by using a wheelchair for which she had no medical need, the court heard.
She was eventually admitted to hospital for tests towards the end of the case but the trial continued in her absence. She claimed to have lost her home and husband in the blaze, which killed 71 people, when she presented herself to volunteers at the Westway Centre, set up to help survivors, on 15 June, the day after the fire.
Msokeri was given goods by charities intended to help the Grenfell Tower survivors after claiming to have lost both her home and her husband in the blaze, which killed 71 people. But she was at her flat in Sutton on the night of the fire, and on the following morning, spent an hour on the phone to Sky complaining about being charged £1.50 over an unpaid bill.
She made the claims to volunteers at the Westway Centre set up to help survivors after presenting herself there the day after the fire on the afternoon of 15 June 15. She would later claim she had a hoarse voice for more than a week after the blaze due to smoke inhalation, but she could be heard clearly in the recording taken by Sky repeating the words: “It’s disgusting, it’s disgusting.”
But she was her flat in Sutton the night of blaze and on the following morning has spent an hour on the phone to Sky complaining about being charged an extra £1.50 over an unpaid bill. Her mobile phone had never been used in the area around Grenfell Tower, location data showed. She used her smartphone with a different sim card inserted to report herself missing, while posing as her sister.
She would later go on to claim that she had a hoarse voice for more than a week after the fire as a result of smoke inhalation, but she could be heard clearly in the recording taken by Sky repeating the words: “It’s disgusting, it’s disgusting.” The call was made in Malden, south-west London, and 15 minutes later, Msokeri’s freedom pass was used at a nearby railway station.
Her mobile phone had never been used in the area in or around Grenfell Tower, location data showed. She used her smartphone with a different sim card inserted to report herself missing while posing as her sister. Her story was called into question when she was unable to give the number of her flat in the tower, despite claiming to have lived there for five months before the fire.
The call was made in Malden, south-west London, and just 15 minutes later Msokeri’s freedom pass was used from the local train station. She also told police her husband appeared in footage recovered from the blaze showing the final moments of two men and two women, even though both men had been identified by their families.
Msokeri’s story was called in to question when she was unable to give the number of her flat in the tower, despite claiming to have lived there for five months before the fire.
She also told police that her missing husband appeared in footage recovered from the blaze showing the final moments of two men and two women, even though both men had been identified by their own families.
Grenfell Tower fireGrenfell Tower fire
Crime
LondonLondon
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